Shakespeare's Sonnets Navigator Summary of Sonnet 42 in the Table of Contents Notes for Sonnet 42

Shakespeare's Sonnet 42


  1    That thou hast her, it is not all my grief,
  2    And yet it may be said I loved her dearly;
  3    That she hath thee, is of my wailing chief,
  4    A loss in love that touches me more nearly.
  5    Loving offenders, thus I will excuse ye:
  6    Thou dost love her, because thou knowst I love her;
  7    And for my sake even so doth she abuse me,
  8    Suffering my friend for my sake to approve her.
  9    If I lose thee, my loss is my love's gain,
 10    And losing her, my friend hath found that loss;
 11    Both find each other, and I lose both twain,
 12    And both for my sake lay on me this cross.
 13      But here's the joy; my friend and I are one;
 14      Sweet flattery! then she loves but me alone.

<<<  Previous Next  >>>